How to Install Roll Roofing on Low Slope Roofs

A typical roof has three layers -- a felt layer and two layers of overlapping shingles. Roll roofing is different. It has just one layer, so it goes on fast and can be installed by a homeowner with basic DIY experience and tools. It is mainly used for garages and sheds that have a low-slope roof. Roll roofing comes in a variety of colors to match existing roofing on the property. Depending on the brand, it’s either nailed down or attached with peel-and-stick adhesive backing. You can install roll roofing on your own, but it goes more smoothly with a helper, so grab a friend and get started.

1

Attach drip edge along the edge of the roof with roofing cement. Extend the front edge of the drip edge so it runs off the roof and into the guttering. If you don’t place the drip edge properly, water may run back under the roll roofing.

2

Clean the roof with a broom to remove any debris. Check the sheathing for any nails or screws that may be loose. All nails and screws should be set slightly below the surface of the sheathing. Use a hammer or screwdriver, as appropriate, to secure the fasteners.

3

Measure and cut a piece of roll roofing the length of any valleys on the roof. Valleys are troughs formed where two planes of the roof meet. Cut this piece of roofing to an 18-inch width with a utility knife. Place this roofing material so it straddles the valley. Nail the roofing in place with short roofing nails spaced 6 inches apart and 1 inch in from the outer edges of the roll roofing.

4

Add a second piece of full-width roll roofing over the first. Nail it in place with roofing nails spaced 6 inches apart and placed 1 inch from the edge.

5

Measure and mark 35 inches from the bottom edge of the roof sheathing in several spots. Snap a chalk line along the marks.

6

Roll out and cut roll roofing to cover the length of the roof. Place the top edge of the roofing along the chalk line. This should give you a 1-inch overhang on the eaves, including the top edge of the installed drip-edge trim installed in Step 1. Nail the bottom edges in place, and then nail along the sides. Space nails 6 inches apart and 1 inch in from the edges.

7

Measure and mark 34 inches from the top of the first row of roofing in several spots. Snap a chalk line. Cut the second piece of roll roofing the length of the roof.

8

Apply a 2-inch-wide layer of roofing cement across the top of the first row of roofing. Place the second row of roofing so the top edge aligns with the chalk line and the bottom edge covers the roofing cement. Secure this row by nailing across the bottom edge, spacing the nails 6 inches apart and 1 inch from the edge. Nail the edges in place as well.

9

Place all the remaining rows of roll roofing in a similar manner. Apply roofing cement under the top edge and nail the top edge of roll roofing in place.

Things You Will Need

Ladder

Drip edge

Roofing cement

Broom

Screwdriver

Tape measure

Utility knife

Hammer

Roofing nails

Chalk line

Tip

Drip edge, or drip cap, is either plastic or sheet metal. It not only protects the roof, but it also protects the fascia and the siding from water seepage.

Install roll roofing when the temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the material from cracking.

Install peel-and-stick roofing in a similar manner. Instead of nailing it down, you remove the protective backing that covers the adhesive on the back of the roll roofing. Once the roofing is in position, set the glue by running a metal roller over the surface of the roofing.

If you need to create vertical seams, overlap seams by 6 inches. Seal seams with roofing cement before nailing them in place.

About the Author

Denise Brown is an education professional who wanted to try something different. Two years and more than 500 articles later, she's enjoying her freelance writing experience for online resources such as Work.com and other online information sites. Brown holds a master's degree in history education from Truman State University.

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